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Voices and Echoes

Doubt. It speaks in whispered tones but echoes in our actions and lingers heavy on the mind. It is a thing that weaves itself into the seeds of our dreams and erodes vision into whim. Doubt leads to uncertainty; uncertainty to fear; fear prevents us from reaching as high as we might.

Doubt is a clingy thing. Like a snowball dropped down a mountainside in a cartoon, it starts small but grows upon its own weight. It continues to collect more doubt until finally it crushes any positive thought. Doubt is the fundamental element of the Anti-V.

As Cyclists, our morale rests on a knife’s edge where the slightest drop of grace can send us into the waiting arms of La Volupté while even the smallest grain of doubt can draw us to the cold anvil of her husband, the Man with the Hammer. Little things such as a freshly wrapped set of bars or a recently cleaned and silenced drivetrain can send morale skyrocketing, even in otherwise atrocious conditions. An elusive click or creak, on the other hand, can coax squares from even the most magnificent of strokes.

Clicks, creaks, or a misfiring drivetrain are guaranteed to send me into a tailspin of frustration and doubt; if my machine disobeys the Principle of Silence or malfunctions, I am sure to face a dismal day on the bike. Clean kit and freshly shaven guns, particularly when the guns are glistening with sweat or rain, is for me one of the greatest sources of form and good morale. To see the muscles moving under the smooth, tanned skin as they strain with effort instantly sends away any lingering doubt and leaves only optimism and drive, my conditioning and training cease to hold sway over my desire and willingness to suffer. And when we are willing to suffer, we can do anything.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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crashin in jpn says:

Jan 14 2013 at 7:07 pm

@Jay

I found this quote a while ago and I liked it; plus, it somehow seems appropriate:

"To be a cyclist is to be a student of pain....at cycling's core lies pain, hard and bitter as the pit inside a juicy peach. It doesn't matter if you're sprinting for an Olympic medal, a town sign, a trailhead, or the rest stop with the homemade brownies. If you never confront pain, you're missing the essence of the sport. Without pain, there's no adversity. Without adversity, no challenge. Without challenge, no improvement. No improvement, no sense of accomplishment and no deep"”down joy. Might as well be playing Tiddly"”Winks." "” Scott Martin

I don't know who Scott Martin is, but I like the quote.

Wonderful quote, to me that sums it up brilliantly.

@eightzero

Eddy H. Merckx on a waffle....THIS. I can't fucking stand a violation of the Principle of Silence. Kills the ride.

Absolutely.
Dan_R says:

Jan 14 2013 at 8:57 pm

Frank,

"And when we are willing to suffer, we can do anything." Words more people should live by. I doubt every day. I fear every day. But it is what we do with that doubt or fear that is important.
LA Dave says:

Jan 14 2013 at 9:23 pm

Another one of many great posts Frank. I hope some of these are going to make the book, they are gold.
GT says:

Jan 14 2013 at 9:59 pm

@crashin in jpn And punctures ... give me the shits
thomas says:

Jan 14 2013 at 10:42 pm

Rule number ??? - the bike shall not creak, groan or make unnecessary noise... the rider should be capable of laying down the V in splendid silence.
zalamanda says:

Jan 15 2013 at 2:57 am

@frahnk, you're a poet... Mao had the Little Red Book, Morrison had the Lords and New Creatures: you should print the Book of Strack; Voices In My Head
Deakus says:

Jan 15 2013 at 5:36 am

Indeed this evokes much! After 10.5 weeks of surgeon imposed imprisonment he finally succumbed to my campaign today of bribery, extortion and blackmail and has relented. 10 days early I am allowed out on my bike in the real world!

A ceremonial burning of the turbo trainer will take place and the N1 is coming out in to the cold and sunshine for her first true spin.

VLVV!
Deakus says:

Jan 15 2013 at 5:36 am

@thomas

Rule number ??? - the bike shall not creak, groan or make unnecessary noise... the rider should be capable of laying down The V in splendid silence.

Referred in the Lexicon as the principle of silence
Ron says:

Jan 15 2013 at 5:38 am

Superb, Frank! I've let doubt creep in to a project I'm at work on off the bikes & it has turned into fear & paralyzed me sometimes. I'm going to read that first paragraph when I feel it setting in & brush it off.

Great words. I only started doing group rides/races a few years back & I realized how doubt could ruin an otherwise good performance. If you can simply make that one move, or follow it, you can stick with the main group. Even a moment of doubt, even if en form, can have you tailed out the back. It's amazing.

None of my steel bikes ever makes a peep. #1 carbon, occasionally. It has been making them lately, but just for around the first minute of the ride. I guess carbon needs to be warmed up, like an engine in winter? I'm letting it go & hoping it goes away.
the Engine says:

Jan 15 2013 at 6:01 am

@Deakus

Indeed this evokes much! After 10.5 weeks of surgeon imposed imprisonment he finally succumbed to my campaign today of bribery, extortion and blackmail and has relented. 10 days early I am allowed out on my bike in the real world!

A ceremonial burning of the turbo trainer will take place and the N1 is coming out in to the cold and sunshine for her first true spin.

VLVV!

Take it easy!